Brentford Development Squad Manager Lee Carsley said he saw some good signs in his team’s defeat to Ipswich Town on Tuesday, a game he felt they should have won.
The Bees were beaten 3-2 in the Under-21 Professional Development League Two South match in Suffolk on Tuesday.
After a difficult journey they fell behind early on but Louis Hutton equalised before half time.
Tyrell Miller-Rodney put The Bees in front but they were pegged back by a goal Lee described as lucky and then conceded the winner soon after.
Lee, speaking to Bees Player after the loss, said his team were fantastic after a slow start but did not take their chances.
“I thought we started off quite poorly in the first ten minutes,” he said.
“It took us four and a half to five hours to get here and I don’t think that helped, you can almost excuse that.
“After we went 1-0 down we were fantastic, we created a lot of chances, got a goal back and started the second half well.
“We took the lead, had loads of chances and we should have buried them.
“They got a lucky goal, the lad has tried to cross the ball and it went in, and then there was a mistake for the third.
“I am not pleased about getting beat but, overall, there were some good signs.”
Ipswich went ahead when a corner was pulled back to the edge of the penalty area and Teddy Bishop fired it home.
Hutton equalised from a corner and Miller-Rodney headed home a Raphaël Calvet cross to put The Bees in front after half time.
Brentford were in control at that point but an Alex Henshall cross flew in off the far post to level it up and the hosts when it when Daniel O’Shaughnessy gave the ball away and Cameron Stewart was put clear to score.
Lee said his side had the chances to win the game but were not clinical enough.
“The preparation wasn’t great,” he said.
“We had to have a quick warm-up and the referee wanted us to kick-off because it’s going to get dark.
“It wasn’t ideal but the players have to deal with it.
“The opening goal was one we could have avoided.
“When the ball was cut back we needed to get out and block the shot.
“The lad took it well, to be fair.
“At half time I told them to keep going, we were playing well and created chances, we maybe needed to be a bit more clinical.
“I thought we created loads of chances.
“We are not hitting the target enough.
“We passed it well, on not a great pitch, and dominated the game from start to finish.
“That is the style we want to play.
“For their winning goal we tried a straight pass that was cut out and it’s in the back of the net.
“The players need the confidence to play and, after that, Daniel didn’t hide, he kept trying to get it.”
Lee said Miller-Rodney’s goal was a good one but his team needed to put the game to bed with the chances they created.
“It was a good move and a good header, a good finish,” he said.
“But we have had four or five more chances after that.
“If we get goal three, four and five, the game is done.
“When it is 2-1 they are in with a chance.”
Brentford have one more Under-21 league match before Christmas, against Millwall on Tuesday.
Lee said he may look to arrange a friendly as he wanted to test his players.
“We will give the lads time off over Christmas,” he said.
“Some live away from home and can spend some time with their families.
“We might organise a friendly after Millwall.
“We played Chelsea last Friday, behind closed doors, which was a good experience for the lads.
“They beat us 2-1 but it was a really good game.
“I will try to get that type of friendly.
“I want the lads playing against the best teams.
“I want to test us.
“We might go abroad and play as well.
“I want the lads ready for when they do play in the First Team.”
Bees Player subscribers can see full post-match reaction from Lee Carsley here.